I don’t know about you, but the Vandals’ blow-out victory over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl before the holidays is still making me smile – and that’s saying a lot when you consider that it’s January, the temperature is dipping into single digits, and the only things growing in Moscow are the icicles on the Administration Building!

It truly was a grand day for the University of Idaho. Vandals showed up in force, braved the cold and cheered the team to a delicious and well-deserved victory. Vandal Pride was palpable inside the stadium and out, and culminated in an after-party with nearly 600 Vandals on hand to congratulate Coach Paul Petrino and the team. Amazing!

The good thing about being a Vandal, though, is that there is always something to celebrate. The accomplishments of stellar alumni for example. Your successes professionally, in the community and on behalf of the university make a positive mark on the world that we can all be proud of. The UI Alumni Association – dedicated Vandals serving the entire alumni base with programming that benefits us all – sponsors a robust awards program that honors alumni for a variety of reasons.

At 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Crystal Ballroom in Boise, the UIAA’s first Silver and Gold Awards celebration of the year will honor Doug Gross ’75 with the Silver and Gold Award, which recognizes alumni with a distinguished record of achievement and service in their profession. Doug has built one of the premier potato growing operations in the country and has been very active in the Idaho Potato Commission. He has been an avid supporter of his alma mater, investing in research and graduate education in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

We also will honor Howard Foley ’69, ’71 with the Jim Lyle Award, which is named for the university’s long-time alumni director and recognizes long-term dedication and service to the university and to the Alumni Association through volunteerism. Howard, who earned his undergraduate degree in business as well as his law degree from UI, epitomizes the spirit of the award, working as a volunteer on behalf of the university, the Vandal Scholarship Fund, the UI Alumni Association, the College of Mines and Earth Resources Advisory Board and much more.

More details about the event are available here. I hope you are able to join us to help celebrate Doug and Howard.

Later this year, we will be honoring a number of other stellar Vandals – details to come on those events.

Here’s to making every day of 2017 an opportunity to celebrate and support the University of Idaho!

Congratulations to the 2017 University of Idaho Alumni Association Award Recipients

Hall of Fame recipients will be announced in the spring prior to commencement.

Silver & Gold Award“For alumni who have a distinguished record of achievement and service”

Craig Redmond '91Craig Redmond leads Mercy Corps' program operation and development, as well as financial services, innovations and emergency responses around the world. He leads a team of almost five thousand people delivering nearly a half billion dollars of programming which serves millions of people annually. He has worked in international development and humanitarian response for over 20 years. He was awarded the Ells Culver Innovation and Leadership Award in 2016 for his work at Mercy Corps.

Don Shelton '76In June of 2016, Don Shelton was named the Executive Editor of The Seattle Times, a role he currently holds, leading the largest news organization in the Pacific Northwest. Shelton has worked as a journalist for 40 years, 29 of those at the Seattle Times. He took the role of Seattle Times Sports Editor in 2009, transforming the department and seeing the sports section honored with "Grand Slam" recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors Association.

Doug Gross '75Doug Gross is the CEO of Gross Farms Inc. He is recognized by the industry and his peers as an exceptional potato grower and has served in various industry groups, including the Idaho Potato Commission. He recently established an endowment for the potato program in Idaho, funds from which will be used for graduate students to tour the state visiting various aspects of the potato industry. Gross also established the Judith Gross Memorial Fun after the passing of his wife. The fund supports students in the Vandal Marching Band.

Karole Honas '77Karole Honas has worked in television for nearly 39 years, serving as an anchor at KIFI Local News 8 for the last 26. She was recently inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television, Arts, and Sciences, an award honoring dedicated broadcasters who have made significant contributions to the industry and communities in their region. People look to her as a respected, leading voice to investigate and report on the important issues facing communities in Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming.

Lynn Davis '71Lynn Davis began his career in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant assigned to the Field Artillery Corps. He served two tours of duty at the Army's Cold Regions Test Center in Fort Greely, Alaska. In 1977 he joined Teledyne Wah Change in Albany, OR, a company that manufactures metals for nuclear, aerospace, medical and corrosion applications. In 2000, Davis was named president. In 2008 he was named group president of ATI Primary Metals and Exotic Alloys over seven manufacturing plants across the U.S. He is currently retired.

Jim Lyle Award“For long-term dedication and service to the university and to the Alumni Association through volunteerism”

Howard Foley '69, '71 Howard Foley is currently an attorney and shareholder at Foley Freeman, PLLC in Meridian, ID. He has been an active member of the Vandal Scholarship Fund (VSF), serving for 15 years as a board member and one year as president at the national level. Foley continues to fundraise for VSF and has been recognized as the Vandal Booster of the Year twice. He is active in the Alumni Association, attending numerous events and alumni chapter activities for over 40 years. Foley has also been active in other scholarship fundraising roles for the university and the state of Idaho.

Helping People Accomplish Their Goals

As demand for rehabilitation counselors increases, College of Education scholarship program puts master’s degree within reach

The demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to outpace the average for other occupations through 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The need is no less in Idaho.

In fall 2015, the University of Idaho’s College of Education received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to educate new rehabilitation counselors, who help people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities find jobs. The grant will cover 42 scholarships over a five-year period for students seeking a master’s degree and covers tuition, fees, books and supplies, and travel to professional conferences.

Students who receive the scholarship agree to work two years at a vocational rehabilitation agency for every year they receive a scholarship. UI offers the program at its centers in Boise and Coeur d’Alene.

“Training high-quality rehabilitation counselors is a key investment in the well-being of our communities,” said Bryan Austin, Ph.D., grant project director and program coordinator for UI’s Rehabilitation Counseling and Human Services program, part of the College of Education’s Department of Leadership and Counseling. “Idahoans with disabilities are far less likely to be employed than members of the general population, and rehabilitation counselors work with them to close this gap, help them to achieve their vocational goals and become independent.”

Caldwell resident Aaron St. George graduated from UI in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in addiction studies. He wanted to continue his education, but was struggling to find a graduate program that matched his interests until he learned about the Rehabilitation Counseling and Human Services program at UI Boise.

You’re invited to celebrate our student-athletes and bowl-winning coaching staff at our National Letter of Intent Signing Day

University of Idaho Athletics looks forward to the opportunity to congratulate the student-athletes that will be signing their Letter of Intent the first week of February. We are proud of our recruits and look forward to the opportunity to welcome them to the Vandal family.

Regardless of major or graduation year, nearly every Vandal I know talks about how cared for they felt while at the university. They remember vividly the professors or staff members who took an interest in them and, literally, changed their life. Strong emphasis on student success has been a hallmark of a University of Idaho education for generations, and thanks to Provost John Wiencek, will continue to be.

Just last week, Provost Wiencek announced a new Student Success Initiative to be led by the new Vice Provost of Strategic Enrollment Management Dean Kahler. The campus wide initiative is designed to bring together all of the offices that support students together in a convenient, centralized “Vandal Success Center.” In addition to the Provost’s Office, the center also has the support of Enrollment Management, Academic Initiatives and the ASUI. More details to come as the center is established, but as an alum, you can be proud that the university is marshaling resources in new ways to make it easier for every student to get the support he or she needs.

Retaining students is a critical step in attaining the enrollment growth goals outlined in the university’s Strategic Plan. Recruiting is the other half of the equation.

Next week, UI leaders, faculty, staff and alumni will gather for two “Meet the Vandals” events – one in Idaho Falls on Monday, Jan. 23, and a second in Boise on Wednesday, Jan. 25. A third session is scheduled for Jan. 31 in Coeur d’Alene. More details are available at https://www.uidaho.edu/events/meet-the-vandals/about.

Each of these events provides prospective students and their parents an opportunity to learn about the details of academic programs and university services, such as majors, student life, housing options, financial aid, how to apply and much more. The Boise event has the added feature of a university panel – including members of the UI Parent and Family Association – answering questions and sharing their experiences with the parents and family members of prospective students.

There are many ways for any alumni to participate in recruiting the next generation of Vandals. The Vandals in Partnership (VIP) program is designed to make alumni involvement easy, and perhaps more importantly, scalable for the time and effort you have to commit. The easiest thing to do is nominate high schoolers or even junior high schoolers we should be recruiting through the Grow the Gold program. There are other, more time-intensive, ways as well that are outlined on the VIP website.

Whether through recruitment or retention, growing the Vandal Family is critical to the strength of our university, our state and our world. Start thinking about how you can help and thank you in advance for your support!

Don't miss the chance to be more involved in the admissions process and promoting the University of Idaho! There are many ways you can share the positive impact of a University of Idaho education with others:

Grow-the-Gold: Only have a few minutes of time to donate but eager to impact the growth of the Vandal family? Nominate a future Vandal for the Grow-the-Gold program.

Recruitment Events: Share your personal stories, successes and Vandal experiences with students and their families at a variety of events in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California.

Luncheons: Join UI Admissions and other alumni for lunch, networking and collaborative open discussions.

VIP Recruitment Partner: Take part in specialized training, sit on panels at events and more as a VIP Recruitment Partner.

Thank you for supporting the next generation of University of Idaho alumni!

Dedication to Duty — Brink Hall Lounge Renamed in Honor of Late Professor

The University of Idaho recognized late mathematics professor Paul Joyce Tuesday night with the unveiling of the Paul J. Joyce, Ph.D. Faculty and Staff Lounge in Brink Hall.

About 60 people attended the event, which honored Joyce’s contributions to the university during his time as the dean of the College of Science.

“Paul’s vision for this room as a place for interdisciplinary collaboration and conversation came to pass in 2013 … it is fitting that the lounge be rededicated in his name,” said Director of General Education Kenton Bird.

UI President Chuck Staben opened the ceremony by recognizing the lasting impact Joyce left on many of his peers.

“Paul was a very fun person with a good sense of a humor, but he was also a wonderful colleague and a great friend,” Staben said. “He was … largely responsible for the room becoming what it is today — a place for faculty and staff to gather for senate meetings and exercise governance.”

Staben said he will always remember how Joyce described the university to prospective students visiting campus.

“It meant a lot to me when he said it at the time … ‘We as a university are big enough to matter and small enough to care,'” Staben said. “And I think that care was a hallmark of Paul as a professor and as a person.”

Relive the fantastic performance put on by the Vandal Marching Band during the halftime show at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl! Watch it on their Facebook page.

College of Education’s Online Programs Ranked Among Best in Nation

The University of Idaho College of Education was ranked among the Best Online Graduate Education Programs for 2017 by U.S. News and World Report.

U.S. News ranked online programs on five categories: Student engagement, student services and technology, admissions selectivity, faculty credentials, and training and peer reputation. More than 1,300 online programs were assessed, and the College of Education was 185th among the Top 200 in the U.S.

The College of Education’s accredited online programs offer flexibility for working professionals and in-state tuition for all courses. Programs are innovative and often interdisciplinary and Vandal alumni are employed throughout the nation. The college offers online master’s programs in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, physical education and special education. For more information about online programs, go to http://www.uidaho.edu/ed/academics/online-degrees.

“Our online graduate programs represent innovative and unique offerings that reach out to adult learners with exciting new career opportunities and lifelong learning designed to enrich and deepen learner’s lives and careers,” said Ali Carr-Chellman, dean of the College of Education. “As we move forward we know that these programs, as well as all of our residential and online programs across the college will continue to increase our mission as the land grant, research intensive university in the state of Idaho and beyond.”

Tickets for the 2017 Hemingway Festival Literary Evening are now available. The premier evening and fundraising event for UI’s Hemingway Festival, is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, and will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s graduation from high school.

The evening will showcase Hemingway’s high school writings, along with prize-winning submissions from the 2nd Annual Hemingway Festival High School Writing Contest.

A Bird’s Eye View of Research

The College of Natural Resources is using drones in research activities to gather information from the air

At the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources (CNR), researchers have spent years studying animals and their habitats, analyzing their behavior for patterns, and working to solve problems. They examine ecosystems and the plant and animal species within them. They study fire burn patterns, forest health and management practices.

Typically, they are doing this work from the ground, relying on satellite imagery or aerial photographs from passing aircraft to see the bigger picture.

But new technology is allowing researchers in multiple disciplines to get a real-time, bird’s eye view of Idaho's changing landscape.

CNR is now utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles — also known as UAVs, or drones — to gather information from the air. The new perspective is adding depth to research projects across the college.

Mapping Habitat from the Sky

UI professor Janet Rachlow in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences — along with researchers from Washington State University, Boise StateUniversity and Idaho State University — is using UAVs to better understand Idaho’s sagebrush habitat, and help the state’s pygmy rabbit population. The research is funded by a $341,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Sage habitat is one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America, and this is a big problem for the tiny rabbit. Pygmy rabbits are sagebrush specialists; they rely on sagebrush for food, shelter and safety.

“You can look at two plants next to each other, one will be browsed down to nothing, and the other is untouched,” Rachlow said. “We are interested in understanding and mapping the nutritional differences that cause such foraging behavior.”

One of the best parts of traveling – and last week, that meant Boise for the Legislative Luncheon, Meet the Vandals, Silver and Gold Awards banquet and the Alumni Association Board meeting and Twin Falls for the Magic Valley Vandal Scholarship Fund Winterfest– is getting an unexpected glimpse of the silver and gold.

Of course, I understand there are Vandals living around the globe, but I am always pleasantly surprised when I am outside of Moscow and see someone dressed in their Vandal gear or hear a “Go Vandals!” as I walk down the street. Many alumni have shared their stories of wearing their Vandal gear while visiting the East Coast or Europe or anywhere else and being approached by their fellow alumni with a smile and "Go Vandals!"

This trip I noticed another great sign of Vandal spirit, at least for those of us in Idaho. Amid that sea of blue and orange in Boise were more than a few University of Idaho license plates! The commemorative Vandal I license plate can be purchased through your county Department of Motor Vehicles or you can apply online. Details are on the Office of Alumni Relations website under Vandal Pride Products.

In addition to the pride factor, all proceeds from license plate sales support the University of Idaho Vandal Pride Scholarship – to the tune of $350,000 to date! About 2,500 Vandal plates are being displayed – how wonderful would it be to have 10,000?

We all will have another opportunity to display the colors as part of this spring’s Pave the Road campaign. As a way to welcome prospective students and their parents to the UIdaho Bound events on March 25 and April 1. Start thinking now about how you will “Vandalize” your part of the world. Details, registration and more about Pave the Road involvement is available here.

Alumni wearing the colors and showing their Vandal pride on their person, their home or their vehicle is a visual reminder of the impact our wonderful alma mater has on the individuals and on the state. So, display the silver and gold loud and proud whenever you can and know your fellow alumni appreciate it.

Display your Vandal Spirit with a commemorative Idaho Vandal I automobile license plate. Proceeds from this program go to the University of Idaho Vandal Pride Scholarship.

Your generous support of this program has generated more than $350,000 total toward UI student scholarships and Financial Aid for more than 525 University of Idaho students since the creation of the program.

Custom and souvenir plate options available. Thank you for supporting the next generation of University of Idaho alumni!

University of Idaho debuts new $52M research center

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho's new research building on campus is on full display Monday as organizers are getting set for its ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

The Integrated Research & Innovation Center (IRIC) is the first new research building on campus in 15 years, university officials told KREM 2 News.

If there is anyone that is pumped about the new space, it is the people at Polymorphic Games.

"We were pretty much waiting outside the building for it to unlock," said Barrie Robison.

Robison is part of a video game design studio that is based at the University of Idaho. The new research building is a definite upgrade from their previous digs.

The $52 million facility is state of the art in its modern design, officials said. They also said it is unique because it is available for anyone on campus to use a research space. It is not limited to just one college, per se.

Russ McClanahan is the IRIC Facility Manager. He said the idea for the building is simple: bring big ideas together all at one location.

Special Hampton-Goodman Tribute at 50th Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival will celebrate its 50th year with a unique set honoring Lionel Hampton’s and Benny Goodman’s careers on Friday, Feb. 24. The Hampton-Goodman Tribute features Stefon Harris on vibraphone, Anat Cohen on clarinet, Joe Doubleday on vibraphone and Felix Peikli on clarinet.

Up-and-coming stars Doubleday and Peikli will perform works in a style reminiscent of the Benny Goodman Quartet of the 1930s. Immediately after, Harris and Cohen will perform a contemporary rendition of the same work that reflects today’s most innovative trends in jazz. This juxtaposition embodies the heart of the festival’s theme – “Grounded in Tradition. Breaking New Ground.”

Happy Birthday University of Idaho!
On Monday, Jan. 30 we celebrated 128 years as Idaho's great public research university. May we continue to win our way to fame, silver and gold in the sunlight blazing.

Pave the Road with Silver and Gold

It’s time to prepare show your Vandal colors!

Prospective students and their families will be traveling to Moscow March 25 and April 1 for UIdaho Bound. Let's show them what it means to be a Vandal and usher them to Moscow with a path of silver and gold. (Not on a direct route to Moscow? Let your colors fly and let us know. Spread that Vandal pride far and wide.)

Evolving Learning

An alien swarm could change the way kids look at science — and the way the video game industry looks at it, too.

The University of Idaho is home to Polymorphic Games, a video game design studio that uses evolutionary principles to create revolutionary games. Last summer, a team of students with specialties in computer coding, art, writing, music, videography, virtual design and biology created Polymorphic Games’ first full-fledged product.

On the surface, it appears to be a reimagining of a classic arcade game where players defend themselves against rows of attacking alien critters.

But these aliens aren’t typical digital villains. They’re creatures with hundreds of genes that determine things like speed, shooting pattern, movement and appearance. If they survive a player’s defenses, they’ll pass their genes to the next wave of the swarm.

As the aliens adapt, the game highlights these evolutionary moments to the player.

“It’s actually somewhat difficult to teach evolution because it integrates lots of concepts in biology, so having a fun thing that demonstrates evolution is important,” said Barrie Robison, a professor of biology who co-founded Polymorphic Games with Terry Soule, a professor of computer science.

Just when I think I can’t stand one more gray February day on the Palouse, it happens – bright, sun-yellow school buses from all over the state and region appear on the Moscow campus. Crowds of excited young people – some in tuxedos or floor-length gowns – amble from one end of campus to the other. Ridenbaugh Hall, the School of Music and the Pitman Center buzz with wild guitar riffs, the blare of horns, bursts of song and laughter.

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival – which runs from Feb. 23-25 this year and celebrates its 50th anniversary – is one of our alma mater’s finest points of pride. Throughout its storied history, the festival has hosted some of the greatest jazz talent in the world, and quite uniquely, partnered them with fledgling musicians – some as young as elementary school age. The result? Three days of magic that literally changes lives.

I remember a workshop at the festival more years ago than I like to admit. Trumpet phenom Dizzy Gillespie was sharing his technique with a room packed with student musicians. He walked on stage with his signature upturned horn, sat on the stool provided and said, “I need a drummer.” Immediately, a dozen hands shot up from the audience. He chose one, a young man who just happened to be celebrating his 21st birthday that day. If ever there was a portrait of pure joy, it was the face of that young musician drumming with one of the all-time greats. That is the kind of magic that happens multiple times a day at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

As with any half-century old program, there have been adaptations and evolution. The festival has returned to its roots in the Lionel Hampton School of Music in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, and is once again laser-focused on its long and stellar history of music education. Not surprisingly, the reaction has been positive – we are seeing more participating students and schools returning to this festival than we have seen in the past several years.

UI entomologist Sanford Eigenbrode studies how the pieces fit together, and how humanity’s increasing understanding of aphids can help protect the crops that feed the world.

And now, through UI’s Visualizing Science exhibit, artists Sally Machlis and Delphine Keim have stepped into the system to share the remarkable complexity of aphids with people beyond the field and the lab.

They’ve created “Abundant,” an artistic celebration of aphids and their place in the world — and in it, have captured the sense of wonder Eigenbrode, as a scientist, feels for his subjects.

“Each individual in the swarm is itself awe-inspiring,” said Eigenbrode, a Distinguished Professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “Each one is really almost unfathomably beautiful and complex.”

The Ngalamulume brothers and their family came to Idaho via Zambia as refugees from unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo nearly a decade ago. Now, they’re motivated to make sure future immigrants are able to contribute to the same American dream they’ve been able to realize.

“We don’t want to reject this opportunity,” George said.

The brothers are at different ends of the education spectrum at UI. George, 19, is a freshman who just finished his first semester of biology courses in the College of Science. Patrick, 21, will graduate in May and plans to take his law school entrance exam this spring. They are two of seven children, and the first to attend college.

Such stability is a far cry from their family’s experience before immigrating to the United States. The brothers’ parents fled Congo in the early 1990s for Zambia, where Patrick and George were born.

"When I was a junior and Nancy was a sophomore we were active members of the Helldivers. One night while we were practicing for a show, some of Nancy's friends dared her to push me into the pool, fully dressed. She did. About a year later my revenge was to marry her. On March 6 we will celebrate 58 years together."
- Ron Osborn '59, '61 and Nancy (Beardmore) Osborn '60

Continue Your VIP Experience

Be our guest in the Budweiser Upper Pavilion at Tempe Diablo Stadium as the Anaheim Angels take on the Colorado Rockies.

Saturday, March 18, 2017
Pregame Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. in the Upper Pavilion off the first base line
First Pitch: 1:10 p.m.
Guests will watch the game from the same location.

Bill Stoneman '66, former general manager of the Angels who now serves as senior adviser to the Angel's general manager, will be our special guest.

Tempe Diablo Stadium
2200 W. Alameda Drive
Tempe, Arizona

Cost: $55 - includes a delicious all-you-can-eat lunch and non-alcoholic beverages. A no-host bar will be available. It is a terrific location, providing lots of shade on those extra hot days. You may also venture out to the grassy area in the outfield.

Punxsutawney Phil may have said six more weeks of winter, but we know the rain is on its way. The VandalStore can help you prepare in Vandal style.

Road to Reno: Big Sky Basketball Championships

The 2017 Big Sky Basketball Championships are just one month away, and the teams are gearing up for a late-season push on the #RoadToReno. Cheer your Vandals on in Reno or visit the alumni watch party page for places to view near you.

All-session tickets are available on GoVandals.com now through Feb. 20. Women's tickets are currently just $38, while the men's all-session pass is just $80. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early, as prices will go up and all sales will be through the Big Sky Conference after the Feb. 20 deadline.

Pregame Celebration
Pregame celebrations will be held before the men's and women's first games atThe Depot Craft Brewery Distillery. Final dates and times will be announced after the tournament schedules are released Sunday, March 5, 2017.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, particularly where snow is concerned. Know anything about this University of Idaho College of Engineering photo? It was donated to the University of Idaho Library in 1991. Let us know at vandalvibe@uidaho.edu.

When it comes to recruiting new Vandals and making college accessible and affordable, we can never have too many tools at our disposal. We want more Idaho students to experience the value of a University of Idaho education, and there are also amazing possibilities to recruit students from the states that border our own.

That is why it is great news to hear that our alma mater is revitalizing the Western Undergraduate Exchange or WUE program. Many of you may have benefitted from WUE in years past. It is a multistate program that allows college students across the West to attend school at reduced out-of-state tuition at participating institutions.

Beginning this fall semester, newly admitted students who meet the criteria will automatically receive WUE tuition and fee rates, which is 1.5 times the in-state rate. The savings is substantial – more than $11,000 a year less than paying full out-of-state tuition and fees.

The UI turned a corner with the enrollment increase it experienced last fall, and growing the overall enrollment remains a primary goal of the institutional strategic plan. Revitalizing our efforts and expanding our toolbox for recruiting students – in Idaho AND out of state – is going to make accomplishing that goal much easier.

As we prepare to welcome a wave of new Vandals, be sure to help us Pave the Road with Silver and Gold leading up to March 25 and April 1. Prospective students and their parents from throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond will gather on campus those two days for tours, informational sessions on everything from financial aid to campus life, and the opportunity to visit with faculty.

We want them to see signs of Vandal pride cheering them on from every direction. So, fly your Vandal colors from your home or business. Don your Vandal sweatshirt. And those of you not along one of the primary routes to campus, fly your Vandal colors anyway and join us in spirit. Send us a picture, and we’ll be sure to share it online.

Show your Vandal colors!

Join the charge to cheer on future Vandals and their families. Help us Pave the Road with Silver and Gold!

Hundreds of parent and their children will make their way to Moscow the last two weekends in March to visit the University. On those days and the days around them, we ask that you fly your silver and gold UI flags and memorabilia. Go all out and make a Joe Vandal living diorama or epic UI lawn decorations or sync your house lights to the Fight Song or more! It can be outside your home, work, car or any viewable place. Use your imagination!

The 2017-18 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest has begun!
Leave your mark on the Vandal Game Day experience and submit a design before March 3. Learn More >>

The Joy of Giving

No one experiences the joy of giving back to her alma mater quite like Joy Irving ’64. A native of Moscow, Idaho, and first generation college student, Joy received much love and support from her parents. They encouraged her to attend the University of Idaho and earn a bachelor’s degree in home economics, what is now called family and consumer sciences. She is now passing on that support by donating to UI scholarships to aid students on their journey through higher education.

“The education that my husband earned at the University of Idaho enabled him to have a very successful career,” she said. “I want to help other young people receive an education that will continue to launch successful careers.”

Joy has committed to an additional $20,000 to cover the funding for graduate students in chemical engineering for 2016. Beyond the gifts Joy makes each year, she has provided for a gift in her will to continue her support for graduate and undergraduate scholarships in chemical engineering, graduate scholarships in food and nutrition and internships in UI Extension. In this way, Joy will continue to help UI students forever while maintaining her financial security now.

“It is becoming ever more important for UI alumni to assist in scholarship aid,” she said. “We also need to continue to encourage students to apply for grants that can help provide the kind of quality education my husband and I received here.”

University of Idaho alumna Marilyn Denis has been selected as the University of Idaho 2017 commencement speaker and as an honorary degree recipient. The surprise announcement was made today, Feb. 28, during a live taping of the Canadian daytime series “The Marilyn Denis Show” on CTV.

UI staff members coordinated with Denis’ TV production crew to orchestrate a surprise taped video appearance by Andrew Kersten, dean of UI’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, and a live in-studio appearance by UI mascot Joe Vandal. After Kersten reviewed Denis’ “university files,” he read pieces from her nomination letters, calling Denis an inspiration to women in broadcasting in both Moscow and Canada.

UI Playwright Bridges the Distance From Moscow to Chicago and Between Black and White

Race relation issues are never black and white as demonstrated in the new play, “The Red Pen” by Vinecia Coleman, which receives a professionally showcased, free staged-reading at Chicago Dramatists in Chicago, Illinois at 7:30 p.m. on March 15. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly suggested by emailing theatre@uidaho.edu to ensure a seat.

Coleman, from Lawton/Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, graduated from University of Idaho in 2016 with an MFA in Theatre Arts. “The Red Pen” was written as her exit project and is a thought-provoking play intended to raise questions and create conversation around the issue of race. The script examines how two couples — one black, one white — remember and react to various situations and the impact on their friendship.

Writing the play was Coleman’s way to break through her own frustration of being Black in this country. She wanted to share pieces of her own experiences with racism and prejudice. Her hopes were that by exploring her own fear and anguish, she may help someone else not feel alone.

However, tackling a tough and touchy subject was frightening. “I was incredibly afraid to write this play,” Coleman said. But the urge to create won out. “I want to tell stories that are mine, that are important to me,” she said.